Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-25
THE TIGER. {
A Big Cats Admiration for Soap
Bubbles


Mr.. LaRue laughed as he said this.
but his wife's face wore troubled
look.
perhaps we had better stay at
home" she said.
Nonsense" replied LaRue; there
is no danger. These circus men are
always spreading some wild rumors
about the escape of lions and tigers.
They do it to advertise the show. You
arc not afraid, are you, Toinette?"
Toinette, a pretty girl of sixteen.
tossed her golden tresses with an air of
disdain.
81 am not going out" she said. land
the tiger is not likely to come into the
house. Marie will demand al my at
tcntion while you are gone"
Mr.. LaRuc and his wife were on
their way to the village, some six miles
distant, when this conversation took
place.
For day or two the country peo-
pie had been somewhat excited over
the report that royal Bengal tiger
had escaped from the mcnagerie at
tached to the Great Western Circus,
then exhibiting at neighboring town,
but nothing definite could be learned,
and many agreed with La Rue that the
story was nothing but an advertising
dodge.
Toincttc watched her parents as they
drove off in Il buggy. and waved her
hand to them as they disappeared
around the bend in the road.
The girl was strikingly fair and del
icate for farmers daughter. Her
vivacity and restless activity, inhcr-
tied, doubtless. with her French blood,
were all that saved her from being n
doll-like beauty, with her pink and
white complexion and hair like spun
gold.
''Toinette! Toinette!' yelled TIE
baby sister, bright little three-year-
old. won't 90 tum and play cirky?"
Marie had never seen a circus, but
she had heard all about it, and on this
particular morning she had brought
out her collection of toys and was de-
termined to get up 4 ''monster aggre-
cation of wonders" that would rival
those advertised by the Great West
ern.
Toinette saw that she was in for it.
'.Lot me see if the coast is clear!"
she exclaimed, as she ran to the front
door.
There was nothing in sight on the
lonely road. and not human figure
was to be seen in the fields surrounding
the house.
Alone in this solitude, with the near
est neishbor a mile away. the girl for
a moment yielded to a slight nervous
ness. Then she shrugged her should
crs in her Frenchy way and laughed.
'.This is picnic for Marie" she said.
sand suppose l must assist her in
turning the house upside down."
For an hour or SO the two had de-
lightful romp. The family cat was
harnessed to a little wagon and made
to trot around an imaginary ring. until
revolving in a high dudgeon, she tore
herself loose from the harness. and fed
to the woods. All the playthings were
utilized in turn. until finally Maria
threw them pctulantly away. and clam
Ored Cor new pleasure.
1t was no slight task to amuse this
spoiled child. but Toinette was good
natured and nothing delighted her
more than frolic. After every thing
else had been tried she thought Of one
resource that had never been known to
fail.
"Now let's blow bubbles" SIZE sug-
ges.ed.
A scream of pleasure from Marie
showed that no better scheme could
have been devised.
In another moment the two had es-
eablished themselves ut the end of the
back piazza. with big bowl of soap
suds and couple of clay pipes.
The servants had been given holi.
day on account of the circus. and per-
feet silence reigned with the exception
Of the shouts raised by Toinette AID
Marie when an unusual large bubble
hOated upward like gorgeous little
balloon.
Toinette had all a child's fancy for
Eaudy Colors. and she foGnd herself
watching the prismatic hues Of the big
bubbles with intense interest